CONCERT AND DANCE.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 November 1917, Page 3

CONCERT AND DANCE.

» A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION

JTarland's theatre was crowded last evening for the concert organised on behalf of the funds of St. Andrew's GhurcJh, and the audience were treated to a programme which contained many items of more than ordinary merit. The singing of Mrs 3>'Ath and Nurse Te Au, of Otaki, and Mrs C. P. Nash, of Palmerston Nonili, Mr Ken Aitken's fine monologue work and the dancing of the Lemmons raii-ed the concert to a high artistic plane, while the other performers acquitted themselves with no small diegree of success. The promoters deserve every credit for bringing pogether so much real talent in one concert and may well be congratulated on the succeisi (attending tlieiiT efforts. Mrs D'Atli was in remarkably good voice and gave out her numbers with splendid spirit. This was particularly true of iillie Maori war song "Kaimate," which in less capable hands might have been unconvincing and unmusical. Again in Guy, d'Hardelot's tuneful pong "I hid my love," Mrs I>'Ath showed a ikeen appreciatibn of the demands of the theme 1 , andi gave a. beautiful rendering. Her encore numbers "It will all come right in the endi" and "Obstination" were also finely sung. Nurse. Te Au was heard to greatest advantage in "The Birthday of My Xrove" and "Do Not ■Entreat Me," which her clear and true soprano voice interpreted admirably. Her other numbers "If You Could Love" and "Bird l of 'Love Divine," wetre also acceptably sung. Mrs C P. Nash's first item "To-night" was sung with much feeling and earned an encore, which w«s responded! to with- "You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose," Mrs Nash again sang later in tlhe evening when she gave a discerning rendering of "Idle iWords." Mr Ken Aiijken has rarely been heard to better advantage than in his clever character study "'"When are you going away?" given in response to an encore for ihis well-phrased rendering of "By the Yukon Trail," and be thoroughly deserved the double recall that tlhe audience insisted on, ''[Devil May Care" accompaniedi on the piano being ijhe audience's reward. A dainty little dance by a dainty little girl, Miss Roina Lemmon, wa? much to the taste of the audience who demanded an encore. 'Her sister Ngai're earned success in the double role of danoer and reciter, a clevor humorous interlude concerning tlie troubles of Mr and Mrs Newly Wed and a charming study in .red descriptive of a poppy fieldi earning loud applause and .recalls in each case. Casey's experiences at the dentist 's and his attempt to take the census were the burden of 'recitation and encore given with considerable skill by Miss Nellie Lyons, of Otaki. Miss Gray's singing of "Turn Back the Universe" and Mips Katie Nash's rendering on tho .piano of a "Polish Dance" also met witbh recognition by the audience, while .an interval of song and story by Mr P. Dockls certainly met with flic keenest appreciation "A Little Bit of Heaven." and "Dear Little Irish Girl" were bdih vigorously sung. Mrs ttiofr. Bert Jonef, of Otaki, contributed a nicely-played overture and rendered valuable service as accompanist, as also did Mrs Leslie McDonald, Mrs Lemmon and Miss Katie Nash. A tasty supper and then dancing con. eluded a very pleasant and profitable evening. Miss White as usual provided acceptable roustc and extras weic played bv Mrs Leslie Messrs Ryder and Touhv acted as M's.C. The promoters wish to thank Mr Farland for the use of tho theatre. MiBen Ling for capable stage management, and Mrs K J. Nash. Messrs Harvey and Co.. and Mr Prime for valuable assistance. The seenerj, artistically painted by Mr "W. Jepson. was much admired by the audience.